APP SWITCH IS WIN FOR PRIVACY

Open Rights Group welcomes the Government’s decision to switch to a ‘decentralised’ contact matching App, in the fight against COVID-19.

ORG warned through the App’s development that ‘centralised’ matching would lead to mistrust, and create a privacy minefield by hoarding sensitive data in a central database.

Jim Killock, Executive Director of Open Rights Group, said:

“We are delighted that the Government listened to our and others advice in ditching the NHS’s ‘world-beating‘ App and to follow the successful model of other countries.

“People need to trust the App, and it needs to work. Some countries using decentralised matching have already released their Apps. It will also work across borders.

“Decentralised matching makes the App much easier to trust, as it doesn’t track you.

“We are still worried that employers and others may try to force people to use the App. A Safeguards Bill could help by making this unlawful.

“There are also still significant questions about whether Bluetooth matching is sufficiently accurate, and whether the Government will do enough to make people feel they should follow any advice to get a test or isolate.”

ENDS

Contact

Jim Killock press@openrightsgroup.org

Notes to the editor

UK virus-tracing app switches to Google-Apple model https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53095336

ORG first warned about the dangers of centralised contact matching in March. A full list of our blogs and press releases can be found at: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaigns/protecting-digital-rights-during-covid-19/